asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will instruct the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to give instructions that all officers taking oral statements from suspects and accused persons will ensure that such statements are signed on each page in the officer's notebook as a true record and that oral statements will not be otherwise included except in medical cases where a doctor is present.

Current police practice in this respect, which is based on the guidance contained in the Judges' Rules and Administrative Directions' to the police, will be considered in connection with the Criminal Law Revision Committee's report on the law relating to evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has now taken to reduce the delay in dealing with appeals against the refusal of entry certificates to relatives of legal immigrants already in the United Kingdom.

A number of steps have been taken. The staff available in the Home Office to deal with this work has been substantially increased. There has also been a procedural change which will reduce the time taken where the decision appealed against was made by the entry certificate officer without reference to the Home Office; in those cases the appeal papers are now sent direct to the appellate authorities without going through the Home Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to bring the fire service pension scheme into operation.

My right hon. Friend proposes within the next few days to make an order giving effect to some of the agreed amendments to the firemen's pen- sion scheme. The remaining changes will be embodied in a further order which he hopes to make soon, after necessary consultations with the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Councils. Both orders will have retrospective effect to 1st April 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has instructed the Metropolitan Police not to assist local authorities wishing to enforce laws against unlawful camping by gipsies except in the event of a breach of the peace; and what advice he has given to local authorities seeking police co-operation in enforcing such laws.

My right hon. Friend has issued no such instructions or advice. The enforcement of the criminal law in individual cases is a matter for the chief officer of police concerned, but unauthorised camping is not, in general, a criminal offence. When the police attend an eviction they do so in order to deal with or prevent a breach of the peace.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proposals he is considering with a view to dealing with the increase in murder, crimes of violence and armed robbery; and if he will make a statement;(2) what steps he will take to prevent the increased use of firearms by law breakers and criminals.

The main defence against violent crime is the preventive and detective role of the police, and my right hon. Friend continues to pay close attention to the development of their strength and efficiency. He is studying the results of a recently completed review of the present arrangements for control of all kinds of firearms. The Criminal Law Revision Committee is reviewing the law relating to offences against the person, and other relevant studies are also being carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish a list showing how many British passport-holding heads of families remain in which parts of the Commonwealth; how many per year are programmed to be admitted to the United Kingdom for permanent settlement; and how many per year in total numbers of all members of their families he expects over the next 10 years.

The available estimates of people with no citizenship other than that of the United Kingdom and Colonies who are subject to control under the Immigration Act 1971 and resident in Commonwealth countries relate to total numbers, not heads of families. They are:

Kenya	…	…	…	35,000
Tanzania	…	…	…	20,000
Zambia	…	…	…	6,000
Malawi	…	…	…	13,000
India	…	…	…	25,000
Malaysia	…	…	…	110,000
Singapore	…	…	…	30,000

There are a number of groups in other countries. The largest is believed to be Pakistan where there are 1,000.In 1972, excluding the refugees expelled from Uganda, a total of about 10,500 people were admitted under the special voucher scheme. The rate of admission to this country for settlement is not programmed for years in advance but it would be my intention to maintain the numbers within the order of magnitude of recent years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek powers to ban spear guns with telescopic sights, in view of their potential danger to skin divers.

We have little evidence of danger being caused by harpoons or spear guns, but I am obtaining information about certain spear guns of the kind mentioned by the hon. and learned Member, and I shall write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the use of the computer installed to assist criminal investigation in the Metropolitan Police Force; and whether he is satisfied with its working.

No computer has been installed specifically for this purpose. The police national computer, which is designed to assist police work, including criminal investigation, by giving the police over the whole country immediate access to central records, is being installed and will become operational for some records within the next 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is now satisfied with the provision of secretarial and civilian assistance for those engaged in criminal investigation in the Metropolitan Police; and how many civilian staff are at present employed in the Criminal Investigation Department in respective classes;(2) whether he is satisfied with the recruitment to the Metropolitan Police Force in connection with the work of the Fraud Squad in securing specially qualified persons regardless of age, including accountants, to assist the Fraud Squad in criminal investigation.

There are 988 civilian staff in executive, clerical, typing and ancillary classes employed in the Criminal Investigation Department and 566 specialist staff including fingerprint officers, photographers, scientists and scenes of crime officers. This complement is regularly reviewed; it represents an increase of about 20 per cent. over the last two years. As regards specially qualified people, the arrangement—which appears to be satisfactory—is that the Fraud Squad calls for such services as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish for each of the last three years the number of offences committed in the Metropolitan Police area in which a firearm was used.

In 1971, the latest year for which figures are available, 618 indictable offences in which firearms were fired, used as blunt instruments to cause injury or damage, or used to threaten, were known to the Metropolitan Police. The corresponding figures for 1970 and 1969 were 494 and 483 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many indictable offences involving the use of firearms were made known to the police in 1972.

The number of offences provisionally recorded as known to the police in England and Wales in 1972 in which firearms were fired, used as a blunt instrument to cause injury or damage or used as a threat is 2,069. This is a provisional figure; the final figure will not be available for several months, and in the meantime it is not possible to give any analysis or breakdown of the provisional total.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women, known to have ill treated their children, have repeated the offence (a) after release from prison and (b) after being required to attend the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children's clinic for such mothers.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many units of accommodation in the London Borough of Newham are owned by the Metropolitan Police Force; how many of these are unoccupied; what is the longest, shortest and average time during which these units have been unoccupied; what are the rents respectively of one, two and three bedroom flats; what is the amount of rates paid to the London borough of Newham in respect of these properties in the last five years; and what was the total cost to the taxpayer for building these units.

As the information requested will take some days to assemble and may need some explanatory matter I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the reason for the visit made to the city of Leicester by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department; to what extent during this visit he discussed with the city authorities concerned problems connected with immigration; and whether he will arrange a similar visit to be made to the London borough of Newham.

My recent visit to Leicester was made at the request of the City of Leicester Corporation, with which I had wide-ranging discussions about problems arising from the presence of substantial numbers of immigrants. I have not been invited to visit the London borough of Newham.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Frederick Sewell has yet contributed anything towards the legal costs of his trial; to what extent he has made any contribution towards the£12,500 expended on his defence costs out of public funds; other than arguing the appeal, what additional costs were paid out of public funds towards his appeal; and whether he will make a statement.

The answers to the four parts of the Question respectively are: no; a contribution order has not so far been made in respect of these costs; none; no, because inquiries are still being made on behalf of the court.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study he has made of the effect of the reduction in the use of dietary punishments on prison discipline during the last decade, and of the reasons for the different usage of dietary punishments in different prisons and remand centres; and with what result.

This will form part of the review of rewards and punishments in prison which my right hon. Friend announced last September.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what proportion of cases, in the November 1970 sample of offenders, in the inner London area and elsewhere separately, a man received a first sentence of immediate imprisonment in a magistrates' court without there being a social inquiry report.

The survey of use of social inquiry reports showed that a report was obtained by magistrates' courts outside the inner London area in 61 per cent. of such cases in the November 1970 sample. A report was not obtained in any of the small number of cases in the inner London sample.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for probation and after-care committees in the inner London area and outer London area separately, the number of main grade posts now vacant, the number occupied and the number intended by him to be in post by the end of 1975.

The information is as follows:

		Main Grade Probation Officer Posts
		Position at 20th February 1973		Estimated establishment by the end of 1975
Probation and After-Care Area		Posts vacant	Posts occupied
Inner London	…	43	282	425
North East London	…	12	73	110
South East London	…	4	40	50
South West London	…	4	26	34
Middlesex	…	33	111	172

The establishment of main grade probation officers is determined by the individual probation and after-care committees, not by the Secretary of State. The committees concerned have asked that the estimates which they have given of the numbers required by the end of 1975 should be regarded as tentative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT in the case of each chief constable in England and Wales, and of the Commissioners of Police for the Metropolis and City of London, the number of occasions when reports made in compliance with Section 12(1) of the Police Act 1964 have not been disclosed on the authority of the Secretary of State, and the reasons therefor.

There is no power to authorise chief officers not to submit the annual general reports required under Section 12(1) of the Police Act 1964. Whilst there is a power under Section 12(3) not to comply, in certain circumstances, with a request by a police authority made under Section 12(2) for a special report, there is no record of the use of this power.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now allow heads of Ugandan Asian families who are in Europe to join their families in this country.

When Asians were expelled from Uganda, we accepted responsibility for those who held United Kingdom passports. We have no similar responsibility for others who were expelled, some of whom went to third countries in various parts of the world, and some of whom were admitted to camps in Europe which were organised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.The High Commissioner has today informed me that of the 3,600 refugees from Uganda accepted into his camps in Europe, he has already succeeded in placing 1,100 people in 16 different countries. About 1,000 others are currently being processed for permanent settlement. He has recently visited a number of other countries in Europe, as well as Canada and the United States of America, and has sent representatives to other countries. He is currently discussing with the Governments concerned the resettlement of the remaining 1,500 refugees still in European transit camps. After reviewing the latest situation with him I have decided, as an act of humanity in reuniting families, and as the United Kingdom's contribution to resolving the remaining refugee problem, to admit for settlement about 300 men who were expelled from Uganda and are now in Europe and whose wives and children are in the United Kingdom. I have also told the High Commissioner that we shall look sympathetically at about 100 other Ugandan refugees who have arrived in this country but have not yet been admitted for settlement, and also at a smaller number in Europe whose circumstances present strong compassionate features.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in view of the report by the chief public health inspector for Birkenhead on dry cleaning installations and the risk of injury from the movement of mechanical plant, exposure of electrical equipment and inflammable and/or toxic or suffocating gases, if he will take appropriate action;(2) if he will make the code of practice for dry-cleaning installations compulsory.

The Department of Employment and the Home Office have already issued appropriate guidance to the trade. The question of making the code of practice compulsory must await the outcome of the Government's study of the recommendations of the Committee on Safety and Health at Work, which include proposals for the statutory protection of the public in industrial and commercial premises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials of his Department, other than architects or engineers, have visited Arnhem Camp, Watchfield, where he proposes to build a training prison for category C prisoners; and on what dates these visits took place.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sites in south-west England, other than Arnhem

					Complaints received by chief officers of police		Cases investigated by officers from other forces
					Provincial forces	Metropolitan forces	Provincial forces	Metropolitan forces
1965	…	…	…	…	6,736	2,565	61	Nil
1966	…	…	…	…	5,771	2,573	60	Nil
1967	…	…	…	…	5,885	2,846	69	Nil
1968	…	…	…	…	6,357	2,926	54	Nil
1969	…	…	…	…	7,351	4,463	58	Nil
1970	…	…	…	…	7,375	4,669	50	Nil
1971	…	…	…	…	7,939	4,332	66	1
1972	…	…	…	…	9,872	5,671	108	4

During this period the Home Office has obtained particulars of about 25 sites within the area of the Prison Department South West Region. Two sites, in addition to Arnhem Camp, were inspected to assess their possible suitability for a training prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many directives have been made by his Department pursuant to Section 49(1) of the Police Act 1964 in each of the years 1965 to 1972;(2) how many directives have been made by his Department pursuant to Section 49(1) of the Police Act 1964 in each of the years 1965 to 1972 in the Metropolitan Police district.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many complaints, concerning the conduct of the police were made to police authorities in England and Wales in each of the years 1965 to 1972; and how many such cases were investigated by officers of forces different from those in respect of which the complaints had been made;(2) how many complaints concerning the conduct of the Metropolitan Police were made to that force in each of the years 1965 to 1972; and how many such cases were investigated by officers of forces different from that in respect of which the complaints had been made.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in how many cases, following complaints made regarding police conduct in England and Wales, reasons for the rejection or acceptance of complaints were communicated to the complainant in each of the years 1965 to 1972;(2) in how many cases, following complaints made regarding police conduct in the metropolitan area, reasons for the rejection or acceptance of complaints were communicated to the complainant in each of the years 1965 to 1972;(3) in how many cases in England and Wales were the findings of officers investigating complaints pursuant to the Police Act 1964 rejected by the chief officers of the force to which the complaint related;(4) in how many cases in the metropolitan area were the findings of officers investigating complaints pursuant to the Police Act 1964 rejected by the Commissioner of Police or other chief officer of the force to which the complaint related.

This information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 1,212 cases of complaint remitted from the Director of Public Prosecutions to the Metropolitan Police were dealt with by the police under the ordinary complaints procedure; and if he will set out in tabular form in the OFFICIAL REPORT the results of such further investigations.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the 1,212 cases in 1971 in which the Director of Public Prosecutions recommended no criminal proceedings. These cases had already been investigated and referred to the Director under Section 49(3) of the Police Act 1964. No further investigation under the complaints procedure would therefore be necessary; but disciplinary proceedings were instituted in 41 cases, involving 56 officers, with the following results:

Required to resign	8
Other disciplinary punishments	46
Not guilty	1
Not proceeded with (officer allowed to retire)	1

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what report he can give on the first stage of the arrangements for the plebiscite on Northern Ireland, including postal voting;

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many postal votes have been issued for the Border Poll.

About 160,000 completed application forms for postal votes have been received by the electoral registration officers. It is not yet possible to say how many postal ballot papers will be issued. Other arrangements for the border poll are proceeding satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make use of the Enterprise Ulster Organisation for the purpose of stockpiling snow removing and road gritting equipment for use during the winter months.

No, Sir. Snow removal and gritting is at present the responsibility of the local road authorities and will become the responsibility of the Ministry of Development from 1st October. The work would not be suitable for the new Enterprise Ulster organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest estimate of the average price of agricultural land in Northern Ireland; and how this compares with the position in 1969.

Figures for the latter part of 1972 indicate an average price for agricultural land of about£250 per acre, compared with£140 per acre in 1969.These recent average figures, which are incomplete, should be regarded as giving only an indication of price movements. Individual prices range from those for poor land without buildings and sold for afforestation to those for first-class agricultural land with good farm buildings and houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children now resident in Northern Ireland are known to have suffered as a consequence of the use of thalidomide.

The number is not known with certainty. The most recent survey, undertaken by the Lady Hoare Trust, suggests that there may be about 22 such children living in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will list all boards and committees to which he has appointed members since 1st September 1972.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to newly established boards or committees set up since 1st September 1972. The information is as follows:—

• The Electoral Advisory Committee.
• The Committee on County Courts and Magistrates' Courts.
• The General Agricultural Advisory Committee.
• The Northern Ireland Water Council.
• The Northern Ireland Electricity Service.
• The Eastern Health and Social Services Board.
• The Northern Health and Social Services Board.
• The Southern Health and Social Services Board.
• The Western Health and Social Services Board.
• The Northern Ireland Central Services Agency for the Health and Social Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision he is making for local representatives to be consulted in relation to planning applications during the period before district councils are fully operative.

Districts councils will be fully operative for this purpose from 1st October 1973. Until then, planning applications will be dealt with by the existing planning authorities under the Planning Acts (Northern Ireland) 1931–71.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations have been held with representatives of local residents of Brown's Bay, County Antrim, about the building of a new car park; what promises were given about further consultations; whether these further consultations have taken place; and whether notices have been published inviting tenders for the work.

I understand from Antrim County Council, the sponsor of the scheme, that there have been consultations about proposed extensions to the car park at Brown's Bay with representatives of local residents on at least three occasions since July 1969. The most recent consultation was on 22nd September 1972. Although it was agreed to keep the objectors informed no further consultations were promised, and none has taken place. The objections of the representatives of local residents were put before the council who decided, after consideration, to proceed with the scheme. Notices have been published inviting tenders for the work. I understand it is the council's intention to write to the objectors shortly telling them of the decision to proceed with the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of fat cattle imported in each of the last five years from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.

The figures are as follows:

1968	…	…	…	85,469
1969	…	…	…	88,523
1970	…	…	…	75,169
1971	…	…	…	74,945
1972	…	…	…	23,471

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of store cattle imported in each of the last five years from the Irish Republic to the United Kingdom, from Northern Ireland to Great Britain and from the Irish Republic to Northern Ireland, respectively.

The information requested is as follows:Imports of store cattle into the United Kingdom from the Irish Republic:

1968	…	…	…	589,200
1969	…	…	…	537,400
1970	…	…	…	506,800
1971	…	…	…	597,900
1972	…	…	…	475,000

Shipments of store cattle to Great Britain from Northern Ireland:

1968	…	…	…	19,277
1969	…	…	…	11,473
1970	…	…	…	7,183
1971	…	…	…	12,676
1972	…	…	…	20,440

Imports of store cattle into Northern Ireland from the Irish Republic:

1968	…	…	…	180,426
1969	…	…	…	211,523
1970	…	…	…	208,693
1971	…	…	…	182,720
1972	…	…	…	122,836

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total tonnage of carcase beef imported in each of the last five years from Northern Ireland to Great Britain and from the Irish Republic to the United Kingdom, respectively.

	Northern Ireland	England and Wales	Scotland
Fat cattle (per live cwt.)	£12·74	£12·73	£13·31
Store cattle (per head)	£96·39	£95·99	£109·06
Fat sheep and lambs (per lb. dead weight)	22·4p	23·13p	22·995p
Fat pigs (per score lbs. dead weight)	£2·56	£1·82 (live weight)	£2·55
Poultry (per lb. live weight)	4·8p	No producers prices available for England and Wales	5·45p
Eggs for consumption (per dozen)	10·0p 8·8p standard)	10·p 9·7p standard)	10·4p (9p standard)
Milk (per gallon)	20·77p	21·9p	23·5p (Scottish MMB)
Barley (per ton)	£25·52	£23·40	£22·89
Potatoes (per ton)	£14·08	£15·00	£14·60

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the saving to date in the current financial year on Exchequer support to the United Kingdom agricultural industry as a result of higher prices being received by farmers for various live and deadstock commodities.

After allowing for the effect of the 1972 review determinations the saving on the fatstock guarantees as

The information requested is as follows:(

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average commodity price received by producers in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England and Wales, respectively, at 31st January 1972 for fat cattle, store cattle, fat sheep and lambs, fat pigs, poultry, eggs for consumption, milk, barley and potatoes.

The information requested is as follows:a result of higher market prices during the year ending 31st March 1972 is estimated at£58 million.Comparison on a part-year basis is not possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in view of a possible world shortage of rock phosphates towards the end of the current century, what research he is sponsoring into the selective breeding of those strains of phytoplankton which have the highest abilities to concentrate phosphorus and the attendant problems of growing and harvesting such strains of phytoplankton in British coastal waters.

None. I have no evidence that there is likely to be a world shortage of rock phosphates, and I am advised that breeding of phytoplankton would not in any event be the best means of recovering phosphates from the sea.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the increased price now paid for brown eggs will be recognised in the new quality markings.

The Community regulations on egg quality are designed to prevent the sale of eggs which are not fresh, or which have internal or shell faults. They are not concerned with shell colour or price.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average length of time taken in replying to complaints about price rises.

Some complaints are dealt with at once on the telephone; others involve correspondence with retailing and manufacturing companies which may take several days or weeks. To attempt to calculate an average would involve a disproportionate cost to public funds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the price reductions that have taken place during the last six months on the following items; meat, bacon, butter, cheese, sugar, tea, milk, bread, and eggs.

On the basis of information collected for the purposes of the index of retail food prices, there were the following reductions in average retail prices between 18th July 1972 and 16th January 1973, the latest date for which information is available:

• New Zealand butter—3·3p per lb.
• Danish butter—3·4p per lb.
• Granulated sugar—0·2p per 2 lb. bag.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed list of price increases that have taken place since the introduction of the Government's wages and prices freeze, as known in his Department and where his permission has been sought and granted for such increases, and the amounts in each case.

Since 6th November 1 have given consent to the following price increases:

MAJOR PRODUCT GROUPS SOLD GENERALLY TO CONSUMERS
Meat products	Tongue and ham, 6p per lb.
	Brisket of beef, 5p per lb.
	Canned beef and mutton, 3p per lb.
	Beefburgers, sausages, meat pies, etc., 2p per lb.
Quick frozen fish products	Breaded fish, 2–5p per lb.
	Fish fingers, 1–2p per lb.
Honey	3½–4p per lb.
Ground coffee	4–5p per lb.

INTERMEDIATE PRODUCTS NOT SOLD GENERALLY DIRECT TO CONSUMERS
Animal feedingstuffs	Consent given to three price increases totalling up to about£11 a ton on compounds and£25 a ton on concentrates.
Fishmeal	£18 per ton.
Maize starch and glucose	Up to£6 per tonne.
Biscuit flour	£1 per sack.
Oatmeal	£13 per ton.
Pot and pearl barley	50p per cwt.
Newly distilled grain spirit and raw malt whisky	4p per proof gallon.
Almond products	½–5p per lb.
Skimmed milk powder	£35 per ton.
Malt extract	£20 per ton.

In addition I have given consent to price increases for a number of specialised commodities made by individual manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the heavy import of egg products from co-operating countries during December and January have conformed with the minimum import price arrangements then in force; whether the marketing boards of the countries concerned received the full minimum prices from the United Kingdom importers; and whether these products are entitled to be in free circulation under the EEC common customs tariff.

From enquiries I have made I am satisfied that these imports were made in compliance with the minimum import price arrangements then in force and that the importers paid the full minimum import price. United Kingdom customs liabilities having been discharged, these imports are free to circulate in the enlarged Community, subject to payment of the appropriate compensatory amount.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the store cattle imported from the Republic of Ireland and from Northern Ireland, respectively, in 1972 reacted to the tuberculosis test after arrival in this country; and how this compares with the situation in 1969.

As store cattle imported from the Republic of Ireland and from Northern Ireland are not generally subjected to a tuberculin test I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what requests he has had from fruit farmers for premiums in respect of the destruction of fruit trees in accordance with EEC Regulation 2517/69; and if he will state in£ sterling the amount, if any, involved.

None. United Kingdom growers are not eligible for these premiums since the EEC scheme was closed to applications before the date on which the Community's common agricultural policy took effect in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what circumstances food subsidies are allowed in the United Kingdom under the EEC regime.

The circumstances in which food subsidies are allowed are those specified in Articles 92–94 of the Treaty of Rome.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list on an annual basis the amount paid by companies in the form of licence fees, royalties and taxation on the basis of their operation in the British sector of the Continental Shelf.

Provisional estimates are that during the first six months of 1972–73 the receipts from licence fees and royalties will amount to about£10 million.Fuller particulars and those for earlier years are contained in Table 5 of the Report to Parliament on North Sea Oil and Gas of January 1973, copies of which are available in the Vote Office. I am informed that profits from production have been covered by various reliefs including allowances for exploration expenditure and capital expenditure on production facilities and that no taxation payments have been made by companies in relation to gas or oil production in the British sector of the Continental Shelf.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Government factories there now are in Scotland; when each one was completed; how many abortive applications there have been in respect of each; and which ones are at present the subject of an application for tenancy.

There are 1,024 Government factories in total in Scotland built over the years since the 1930s. The number of completions in each year over this period is not available.Eight factories now empty have been the subject recently of 16 abortive applications. Four of them are the subject of current applications, namely:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why, following the letter to him from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, on 23rd December 1972 concerning alleged overcharging by a firm and the hon. Member's subsequent action as suggested in his reply of 18th January 1973, no progress up until 16th February 1973 had been effected; and what action he proposes to take to resolve this issue to ensure that this firm and retail establishments in general do not overcharged the consumer.

The matter to which the hon. Member refers is under investigation by the appropriate weights and measures authority. These authorities are not under my direct control, but I will draw the hon. Member's Question to the notice of the chief inspector concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the Master of the Guild of Air Pilots following the investigation into the circumstances of the crash of Papa India, and alleging that matters irrelevant to the inquiry were discussed; what reply he has sent; and whether he intends to overhaul the constitution and terms of reference of such inquiries.

The master has made representations, which I am considering, on a number of aspects of the Papa India inquiry and the present public inquiry system generally, including the suggestion that this type of inquiry should be abandoned. He made no reference to the relevance of subjects raised during the hearings. I think we can rest content that the learned commissioner was satisfied with the relevance of the matters he permitted to be discussed before him. I have told the master that I consider there will be occasions in the future when, in the public interest, it will be appropriate for there to be a public inquiry. It is as yet too early to decide whether, in the light of the recent inquiry, any changes to the accident investigation regulations will be required.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take action to provide for incentives to encourage office development away from the South-East of England; what proposals he has for increasing office development in the North-West Region; and if he will make a statement.

Selective assistance under the Industry Act can be provided for those mobile service projects which will make a significant contribution to the employment needs of the assisted areas. In addition we are considering ways in which the incentives to encourage private office employment away from the South-East into the assisted areas can be improved.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in relation to policy, outlined in Cmnd. 5226, how many interdepartmental task forces he is now setting up; in what areas they will operate; and what are their terms of reference.

Five task forces have been set up. Three have been appointed by the Secretary of State for Wales, for Cardiff, Ebbw Vale and Shotton, and two others, for Hartlepool and the Workington area, have been appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The remit of the task forces is to assess the implications of a particular closure or closures for the area concerned and to make recommendations for strengthening the local economy and in particular for the provision of the new jobs that are needed. Further task forces will be appointed where the circumstances of an area justify them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to require that labelling for tinned fruits states separately the weights of fruit and syrup.

I have little to add to the reply I gave to hon. Members on 12th February to the closely related question on drained weight. The subject is complex and the Government are still studying the matter—[Vol. 850, c. 975–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry with which other Government Departments, and with which other authorities and organisations, and by what means, he maintains coordination of the provision of assistance to mariners and others in distress on the seas around Great Britain.

The Search and Rescue Committee on which the Ministry of Defence, the Post Office, the Royal National Life-Boat Institution and Trinity House as well as this Department are represented, is responsible for keeping under review the functioning of the search and rescue organisation and for considering changes in equipment, deployment and organisation in any part of it. Her Majesty's Coastguard, which is part of this Department, is responsible for co-ordinating operations around the coasts of the United Kingdom, calling upon the services of the other bodies mentioned as necessary.Further details of these arrangements are given in the 1970 Report of the Committee to Review the Marine Search and Rescue Organisation of the United Kingdom, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether satisfactory arrangements have been made with the authorities of the People's Republic of China for the British aircraft chartered to take visitors to the Industrial Exhibition in Peking in March.

The authorities of the People's Republic of China have given permission to British Overseas Air Charter Ltd. to operate a number of charter flights between London-Hong Kong and Peking in connection with the British industrial technology exhibition. Discussions on the routings of these flights are in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many public houses in England and Wales are operating under exclusive sales contracts in breach of Article 85(1) of the EEC Treaty.

Her Majesty's Government are not responsible for administering the provisions of Article 85 of the Treaty of Rome. The report of the departmental committee on liquor licensing shows that there are some 8,000 "free" houses in England and Wales, but I have no knowledge of the extent to which their sales contracts fall within the terms of Article 85(1).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in reaching an air services agreement with the Government of the People's Republic of China.

As indicated in my replies to the right hon. Member for Barnsley (Mr. Mason) on 30th January and 12th February we are waiting to hear from the Government of the Peoples Republic of Cmina when they are ready for bilateral negotiations.—[Vol. 849, c. 348–9; Vol. 850, c. 226–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the statement of the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in the OFFICIAL REPORT, Volume 850, for 13th February 1973, column 1247–8, as to the liability of the Government in the event of a liquidation of Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. represents a specific commitment, in relation to any debts, of a kind referred to by the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury in OFFICIAL REPORT, Volume 832, 7th March 1972, column 282–3; and whether this commitment has been previously given.

The present interim capital structure of Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. does not reflect fully the nature and extent of the company's business, but an appropriate capital structure cannot he determined until the price for the aeroengine assets bought from the receiver of Rolls-Royce Ltd. is known. This present interim situation, in which the company is trading normally but without an appropriate capital structure, means, as I made plain in the House on 13th February, that the Government will ensure that the debts of the company are met in the extremely unlikely event of a liquidation. When the company is given an appropriate capital structure, the Government will review the extent, if any, to which this specific commitment will continue, and they will, of course, ensure that any change in their position is made clear.—[Vol. 850, c. 1247–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the special arrangements whereby West Germany can treat exports from East Germany as internal trade; what effect this has on trade within the Common Market and in particular on East German imports from non-EEC countries which make their way into the Common Market; and if he will make a statement.

A protocol to the Treaty of Rome provided for inter-zonal trade between East and West Germany to be regarded as internal German trade but that each member State could take appropriate measures to prevent difficulties arising from this arrangement. This protocol is still in force. Imports of goods from the GDR into other Community countries, including the United Kingdom are however not exempted from the common external tariff, nor do these arrangements apply to imports into the Federal Republic from other non-member countries.So far as concerns the second part of the question there is not formal machinery to control the re-export of goods entering the Federal Republic of Germany from East Germany but there are very heavy tax distincentive measures and I understand that this has not proved a serious problem up to date.

Trade Association	Minimum degree of absorption of price increases since 6th November 1972 (unless otherwise stated)
Light Metals
Light Metal Founders Association	20 per cent, of increased secondary aluminium ingots cost.
Zinc Alloy Die Casters Association	55 per cent, of increased zinc alloy cost which took place on 30th November 1972.
Association of Bronze and Brass Founders	15 per cent, of increased copper alloy ingots cost up to 25th January 1973.
National Brass Foundry Association.
Copper Cylinder and Boiler Manufacturers	20 per cent, of increased copper metal content cost up to 13th February 1973.
Johnson, Matthey & Co	10 per cent, of increased palladium cost up to 23rd November 1972.
Englehard Industries
British Joint Association of Goldsmiths, Silversmiths, Horological and Kindred Trades.	58 per cent, of increased silver cost between 1st September 1972 and 12th February 1973.
Association of British Pewter Craftsmen	51 per cent, of increased raw materials cost between 3rd January 1972 and 22nd January 1973.
Fatty Acids
Association of Fatty Acid Distillers	25 per cent, of increased tallow cost up to 19th February 1973.
Soap and Detergent Industry Association
Association of Fatty Acid Distillers	10 per cent, of increased cost of castor oil and fish acid oil up to 7th February 1973.
Textiles and Carpets
Federation of British Carpet Manufacturers	50 per cent, of increased raw wool cost up to 22nd December 1972.
Tufted Carpet Manufacturers Association	30 per cent, of increased raw wool cost up to 22nd December 1972.
Needleloom Felt Manufacturers Association	50 per cent, of increased raw materials cost between 14th September and end December 1972.
Pressed Felt Manufacturers Association	30 per cent, of increased raw materials cost between last, established price and 6th November 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed list of price increases that have taken place since the introduction of the Government's wages and price freeze. as known in his Department and where his permission has been sought and granted for such increases, and the amounts in each case.

The list which follows sets out the substance of agreements which I have reached up to 16th February with trade associations in five sectors of manufacturing industry authorising certain limited price increases which have been made necessary because of increases in the cost of imported raw materials. In all such cases I have insisted that the industries concerned should absorb a significant proportion of such increased cost and have required them to absorb all other cost increases. The list also gives details of arrangements for limited price increases reached with three service industries. I have also given consent to certain price increases by 56 firms, 39 of them firms with an annual turnover of less than£10,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the latest available estimate of the value of the net assets of United Kingdom subsidiaries of foreign companies and the number of people employed by them, giving a breakdown between manufacturing, distribution oil, &c., and between the principal countries in which the parent companies are based.

The following are aggregates of figures given in the latest accounts of United Kingdom subsidiaries of major overseas oil companies, relating to 1970 or 1971:

		Number of overseas companies	Book value of net assets*£m.	Average number employed
United States	…	10	749	22,000
Other	…	2	45	2,000
Total	…	12	794	24,000
* Including some assets owned by the United Kingdom subsidiaries in third countries. For other companies, the latest figures for the book values of the net assets of United Kingdom branches subsidiaries and associates of overseas companies, relating to the end of 1968 and classified according to the main activity carried on in the United Kingdom, were published in the Board of Trade Journal of 23rd September 1970, page 649. Corresponding employment figures are not available.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether, having regard to a recent decision in the Court of Appeal that the division of the matrimonial home etc. where a divorce or judicial separation are involved shall be made irrespective of the parties' conduct, the Service Departments will revise their regulations and provide pensions for divorcees on this basis.

We have no plans to do so.

asked the Minister of State for Defence which of the present activities of Royal Air Force Finningley could not continue there in the event of a civil airport being developed at Thorne Waste.

The primary role of Royal Air Force Finningley is to carry out the flying training of Royal Air Force navigators, engineers and air electronics officers. Continuation of these tasks would be incompatible with the development of a civil airport at Thorne Waste.

asked the Minister of State for Defence at which Royal Air Force stations activities would be restricted in any way by the development of a civil airport at Thorne Waste.

The development of a civil airport at Thorne Waste would have widespread and most damaging repercussions on the whole pattern of flying training for the Royal Air Force, much of which is carried out in the Vale of York. In particular, it would be incompatible with the operation of Royal Air Force Finningley and would seriously impinge on the flying activities of Royal Air Force Church Fenton and Royal Air Force Elvington.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what would be the effect on civilian employment opportunities at Royal Air Force Finningley of development of a civil airport at Thorne Waste.

The level of civilian employment at Royal Air Force Finningley would depend entirely on the extent to which a non-flying rôle could be found for the station, since continuation of its flying training task would he incompatible with the development of a civil airport at Thorne Waste.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of redeploying activities from Royal Air Force Finningley consequent upon development of a civil airport at Thorne Waste.

To redeploy the tasks of Royal Air Force Finningley elsewhere would involve major changes in the Royal Air Force's pattern of flying training. Much study would be required to see whether a suitable alternative site could be found in the Vale of York or whether wider redeployments were needed. In such circumstances any estimated cost of the reprovision of Royal Air Force Finningley by itself would be largely hypothetical but the overall financial consequences can be expected to be very severe.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how much of the land into which the Nugent Committee has been inquiring is derelict; and what is the estimated cost of restoring such surplus land to a condition where it is socially useful.

The Defence Lands Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Nugent of Guildford is reviewing Ministry of Defence land holdings under the terms of reference announced in the House on 14th January 1971. None of the land under consideration by the committee is officially classed as derelict. The second part of the hon. Member's question therefore does not arise.—[Vol. 809, c. 244–7.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will invite President Bhutto of Pakistan to meet him for official talks.

President Bhutto is always welcome in London, but there are no current plans for him to come here.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech to the Young Conservative conference at Bournemouth on 4th February on Government policies.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech to Young Conservatives at Bournemouth on 4th February on Government policies.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave in answer to a Question from the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) and others on 20th February.—[Vol. 851, c. 223–9.]

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech of the Lord President of the Council at Bournemouth on Saturday 3rd February on inflation represents the Government's policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech of the Lord President of the Council on inflation at Bournemouth on Saturday 3rd February represents the policy of the Government.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to the New Hebrides.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to the New Hebrides.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to the New Hebrides Islands.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to the New Hebrides.

I refer the right hon. and hon. Gentlemen to the reply which I gave in answer to a Question from the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) on 20th February.—[Vol. 852, c. 56–7.]

asked the Prime Minister how many meetings he has had in the last month with local authority representative groups.

Two.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination of the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Department of Social Services in connection with questions of eligibility for legal aid.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library of the House of Commons a copy of his public speech made at the opening of the Merseyside Development Office on 7th February at a luncheon to commemorate the event at the Savoy Hotel, London.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech made at the opening of the Merseyside Development Office in London on 7th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library of the House of Commons a copy of his public speech, made in London on 7th February at the establishment of a Merseyside Development Office.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech on Merseyside development made in London on 7th February.

I did so on 7th February.

asked the Prime Minister what decision he has made with regard to the request to him by the Chairman of the Association of Municipal Corporations that he should meet representatives of the AMC to discuss rates.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now have urgent meetings with representatives of all local authority associations on the question of rate increases in relation to phase 2 of the prices and incomes policy.

asked the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with representatives of the Association of Municipal Corporations regarding rate increases; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will hold consultations with representatives of medium sized local authorities to discuss their budgetary difficulties.

I held a meeting on 13th February with representatives of the Association of Municipal Corporations together with representatives of the County Councils Association, the London Boroughs Association, the Urban District Councils Association and the Rural District Councils Association at which we discussed the budget problems of local authorities generally in the context of the Government's counter-inflation policies.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement arising out of his consideration of the matters put to him in his discussions with civic leaders about the level of municipal rates.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today in answer to a Question from the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris).

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Lord Chancellor on 2nd February 1973 in Teesside on the subject of crime represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to the Ellice Islands.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave him in answer to a Question on 15th February.—[Vol. 850, c. 409.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to Chester-le-Street.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will attend this year's Commonwealth conference in Ottawa.

Subject to circumstances at the time I hope to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with co-ordination between the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Secretary of State for Defence about the proposal to build a training prison for 500 Category C prisoners at Arnhem Camp, Watchfield, in close proximity to the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, where weapons and explosives are stored; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I am satisfied that the views of the two Departments have been co-ordinated on this proposal on which the Home Office is now awaiting the preliminary views of the planning authority.